Stethoscope

ABSTRACT

A stethoscope is provided having ear tubes connected by a resilient band which permits swinging movement of the free ends of the ear tubes toward and away from each other in a plane for insertion for use and removal but resists displacement of the ear tubes from that plane, the ends of the resilient band being formed into spring collars and having struck out projections engaged in slots in the tubes to prevent longitudinal separation and turning of the tubes.

United States Patent [1 1 Ziegler et al. 1 Jan. 2, 1973 [54] STETHOSCOPE3,295,631 1/1967 Machlup ..l8l/24 3,633,704 1/1972 Ziegler et al...l8l/24 [75] Inventors: Carrell G. Ziegler, Flourtown; Al-

Hoflmlll, Roslyn, both of Primary Examiner-Stephen J. TomskyAttorney-Zachary T. Wobensmith [73] Assignee: Dittmar and PennCorporation,

Philadelphia, Pa. [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: June 24 1971 A stethoscopeis provided having ear tubes connected by a resilient band which permitsswinging movement [21] Appl. No.: 156,449 of the free ends of the eartubes toward and away from each other in a plane for insertion for useand removal but resists displacement of the ear tubes from [52] US. Cl..l8l/24 that plane the ends of the resilient band being formed Clintopring collars and having struck out projections [58] Field of Search..l8l/24 engaged i l t i the tubes to prevent longitudinal separationand turning of the tubes. [56] References Cited 2 Claims, 5 DrawingFigures PATENTEDJAM ems 3.708.034

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INVENTORS CARRELL G. Z/EGLER ALEERT H. HOFFMAN ATTORNEY STETHOSCOPECROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is animprovement over our prior application for letters patent forStethoscope, filed Mar. 25, 1970, Ser. No. 22,440, now U.S. Pat. No.3,633,704.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to stethoscopes and more particularly to a stethoscope having animproved resilient connection between the ear tubes.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various connections have heretofore beenproposed between the ear tubes of stethoscopes.

Littman et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 3,168,160, shows a stethoscope in whicha spring composed of one or more leaves is anchored at its ends to theends of the rigid ear tubes by a coil spring or by an enclosing collar,the spring and its ends being enclosed in a Y-shaped sound tube to thestem of which a conventional stethoscope head is attached. The Littmanet al. structure not only includes a multiplicity of components but theassembly is slow and there is likelihood of obstruct-ion of the Y-shaped tube by the spring particularly upon aging of the Y-shaped tube.Further, the replacement of the Y- shaped tube which may be renderednecessary by aging is difficult.

Machlup, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,295,631 shows a stethoscope in which likeLittman et al. the spring connecting the rigid ear tubes is enclosedwithin a Y- shaped flexible tube and thus is subject to similarshortcomings to those of Littman et al. Machlup provides a groove in theear tube, thus weakening the end or reducing the cross sectional areafor sound transmission, or both and indentations spaced from the grooveand projections on end collars on the spring for engagement in theendentations and groove. The spring end collars and spring are entirelyenclosed within the Y- shaped tube. The simplicity of construction andassembly of the construction of the present invention is lacking inMachlup.

Marsh, in U.S. Pat. No. 654,906 shows a stethoscope in which the springconnecting the rigid ear tubes is connected to the ear tubes by screwsor rivets.

Jones, in U.S. Pat. No. 735,670 shows a spring connecting the rigid eartubes with end collars frictionally engaged on the ear tubes.

The rigorous use to which stethoscopes are subjected results inloosening of the sleeves which are merely frictionally engaged'and nototherwise restrained.

The stethoscope of the present invention has the connector secured tothe ear tubes in a simple but effective manner which does not requiresoldering or the like, or the use of external springs or collars andwhich permits of easy replacement of flexible tubes if desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In'accordance with the invention, a stethoscopeis provided having the relatively rigid ear tubes connected by aresilient connecting band which permits swinging movement of the freeends of the ear tubes toward and away from each other in a plane forinser tion for use and for removal but which resists displacement, as byturning, of the ear tubes from that plane, the ends of the band havingend struck out projections engaged in slots in the ear tubes, and havingpartial side gripping wings, the end portions of the resilient bandbeing held in engagement with theeartubes by external collars,preferably of tubular synthetic plastic material.

It is the principal object of the invention toprovide a stethoscopehaving a simple but effective resilient connection between the ear tubeswhich permits easy adjustment of the ends of the ear tubes towardandaway from each other in a plane for use and for-removal but preventsdisplacement of the ear tubes by turning of the same out of that plane.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a stethoscope havingan improved connection between the ear tubes and which will have a longuseful life.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will beapparent from the description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The nature and characteristic featuresof the inven tion will be more readily understood from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings formingpart thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a stethoscope in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately onthe line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal view partly in elevation and partlyin section on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view, takenapproximately on the line4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a partial exploded perspective view of the end connection.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawingsherein are illustrative merely and that various modifications andchanges can be made in the structure disclosed without departing fromthe DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now moreparticularly to the drawings, a stethoscope is shown at 10 havingrelatively rigid ear tubes 11, preferably of metal such as stainlesssteel, brass or aluminum or of synthetic plastic material, with rubberor plastic ear tips 12 thereon. The ear tubes 11 have flexible tubes 13of rubber or synthetic plastic extending therefrom to a chestpiece 14 ofany desired S'P A binaural spring 15 is provided, preferably of springsteel, and of special configuration as hereinafter described.

The spring 15 has a central band portion 16, which is preferably widerat the center than at the ends, and is of substantially U-shape. v I

The spring 15 has end portions 17 with arcuate terminal wings 18 whichextend around the tubes 11 and toward each other in resilient grippingand holding relation to the tubes 11. The end portions 17, between thewings 18, have struck out projections 19 which engage in slots 20 in thetubes 11. The engagement of the end portions 17 and the tubes 11 thusprovided prevents relative turning movement of the tubes 1 l and thespring end portions 17 as well as longitudinal axial movementtherebetween.

Swinging movement of the ear tube tips 12 toward and away from eachother in a plane as required for insertion of the car tips 12 in theears for use is permitted by the spring 15 while undesired distortion isprevented by the spring 15 and its connections to the tubes 1 1.

We claim:

1 1. In a stethoscope having relatively rigid ear tubes with terminalends on which flexible tubes are engaged and a chestpiece connected tosaid flexible tubes, the improvement which comprises a binaural springin separated relation from said flexspring end portions but permittingrelative move- 1 ment of the free ends of the ear tubes in a plane. 2. Astethoscope as defined in claim 1 in which said binaural spring is ofU-shape and of strip material and is wider at the midportion thereof.

1. In a stethoscope having relatively rigid ear tubes with terminal endson which flexible tubes are engaged and a chestpiece connected to saidflexible tubes, the improvement which comprises a binaural spring inseparated relation from said flexible tubes and having end portions withterminal wings extending around said ear tubes and toward each otherretaining said end portions in resilient gripping and holding engagementwith said ear tubes, interengaginG portions on each of said ear tubesand each of said spring end portions intermediate its terminal wings forpreventing relative rotation and longitudinal axial movement of saidtubes and said spring end portions but permitting relative movement ofthe free ends of the ear tubes in a plane.
 2. A stethoscope as definedin claim 1 in which said binaural spring is of U-shape and of stripmaterial and is wider at the midportion thereof.